O'Shea claims valuable win with Kaepernick

October 2, 2017 - 06:27 PM

John O'Shea has celebrated his first Sydney winner since his return as a public trainer, appropriately with a horse who has come full circle.

O'Shea picked Kaepernick out as yearling but the trainer joined Godolphin before the gelding raced and he was sent to the Hawkes team at Rosehill.

Kaepernick made his way back to O'Shea who relinquished his position with the global organisation in April.

"I bought him as a yearling and when I came back training the owners decided to send him back to me," O'Shea said.

Kaepernick ($3.40) settled last under Brenton Avdulla before rapidly improving on the home turn to claim Monday's open 1000m-sprint by a neck from Highly Geared ($9).

"It was a wonderful team effort from the staff to get him there and obviously the Hawkes always send their horses across in wonderful order too," O'Shea said.

Kaepernick was racing for the first time since he was unplaced in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) in June and will now be aimed at the Listed $500,000 Lightning Stakes on October 14.

James Cummings, O'Shea's successor as Godolphin's head trainer, also experienced success through debutant Deprive who had to survive a protest to post the win in the TAB Rewards Handicap (1300m).

Hugh Bowman, on second-placed Gresham, protested against Glyn Schofield saying there were two instances of interference which cost his mount victory.

Racing NSW stewards agreed Deprive had shifted out marginally at the 250m but that the contact was slight.

Deprive ($3.50) also shifted out at the 25m-mark, forcing Gresham wide, but stewards again said they could not be satisfied the Chris Waller-trained $3.10 favourite would have finished in front had the incident not happpened.

The three-year-old won by half-a-neck, with Godolphin's assistant trainer Darren Beadman paying tribute to staff rider David Kinsella.

"Kinno has done a lot of work on him at home. Deprive was very anxious, keen and wanting to get the job done early, he's relaxed him well," Beadman said.

Although Waller lost the protest, Sydney's premier trainer still ended the meeting with three winners, including Improvise who broke her maiden at her third start.

The $2.80 favourite stuck to her task to shade Touch Of Mink ($5.50) by a short head in the ATC Owners Handicap (1300m).

"She's still learning her craft and we haven't quite worked her out in terms of distance. She's quite a big lanky filly so I think a mile will be a bit better for her," Waller said.

Although he couldn't upgrade Gresham, Bowman still ended the meeting with four winners including Improvise.